2 - They are slow to load on a dial up connection

Even though world is slowly moving to fast broadband connections, there are still millions upon millions of web users who connect to internet using slower dial up connections. Putting a splash page on your web sites makes them wait - in effect, putting a block between them and your chance to present them with information. Why would you want to do that?

3 - Search engines generally can't read splash pages

While technology is evolving, search engines like Yahoo and Google search and index text on your web site. If you don't provide text (meaning you have only a graphical splash page), search engines may not be able to find your web site - and that means that your potential visitors won't be able to find you either.

4 - Design for 256 colors (8-bit) and 640x480 resolution.

5 - Use ALT tags on graphics. If you're using a graphic in place of a paragraph or more of text, type same text into ALT box because even long blocks of text will appear in browser so people can read it before graphic downloads.

6 - Include contact information on every page, including your company name, address, email address, and phone and fax numbers. Every page should have site's main URL included.

7 - Keep your site fresh. Be prepared to update your site at least once a month, adding new information and discarding anything out-of-date. You want repeat visitors, so give them something to come back for.

8- Be generous. The more detail you provide, more of a service you offer, and more reason you give people to visit your site.

9 - Test your site as visitors will see it. Connect to it at 14.4 and 28.8 to see how fast it really is. View your site at several resolutions and color depths, and on several browsers.